Humphries can also contribute for the Nets and Brooks should lead the 2nd unit. They got Evans, Bogans and Watson who are fairly solid backups. You have 4 potential 20pt scorers and rebounders and interior defenders in evans and humpries.

The knicks have two contrasting PGs which i think will be to their advantage. Kidd can open up defenses with his 3s and Felton can open the perimeter with his slashing. i think they'll be deadlier now that they have a pass-first PG in Kidd, who can dish to shooters Novak and JR. Melo, Amare and Chandler are pretty much self explanatory.

Indiana was able to climb up last season due to the fact that the two teams i just mentioned didnt have the players that they have now. Indiana is solid, I dont think Mahinmi will make a big impact as much as the new players that the Knicks and Nets will have on their teams.

D. Will, Hump, Wallace and Brooks were on the team last season, so essentially you feel that the addition of Evans, Bogans, Watson and J. Johnson are enough to bring them from one of the worst teams last year to the second best in the East? I don't agree, but I guess we'll see how the season unfolds.

Same with the Knicks. It's the exact same disfunctional team but they've added Felton and Kidd. Not sure if that one change is enough to make them a drastically better team.

Indiana is one of the most complete and balanced teams in the league and imo they will be right there at the top of the east standings by end of the year.

I'm surprised at all the love for Chicago. Theyve lost their best player/former MVP in rose. The only reason they did good without him was because of the bench mob. They had one of the best benches in the league and now only Gibson is left. They replaced rose with Hinrich and deng will likely miss significant time with his wrist. Not to mention they've already said if they're not in playoff contention they'll let rose rest the whole season. I just don't see them anywhere near the playoffs this year

I'm surprised at all the love for Chicago. Theyve lost their best player/former MVP in rose. The only reason they did good without him was because of the bench mob. They had one of the best benches in the league and now only Gibson is left. They replaced rose with Hinrich and deng will likely miss significant time with his wrist. Not to mention they've already said if they're not in playoff contention they'll let rose rest the whole season. I just don't see them anywhere near the playoffs this year

We could potentially see a Spurs-esque tank job by Chicago this season...

Kyle Lowry won the starting point guard spot in Houston two seasons ago and has since earned a reputation as a tough, fearless guard who can score off the dribble or from deep range while being able to defend his own position without help. Much of the optimism in Toronto revolves around what Lowry brings to the Raptors. Lowry allows Raptors head coach Dwane Casey to move Jose Calderon to the second unit and Lucas finally gives the Raptors a third-string point guard who can start if necessary.

Where Jonas Valanciunas represents the future for Toronto big men and is expected to have a strong rookie campaign, the Raptors will be counting on a healthy Andrea Bargnani to carry much of the scoring load and continue the elevated level of play witnessed prior to his injury last season.

Toronto has evolved into a good defensive unit under Casey, but they will face tough competition for eighth this season and another injury to Bargnani or a point guard controversy between Lowry and Calderon could easily derail the Raptorsí season. However, if this group gels and everything stays together, there will likely be a postseason appearance for Toronto in April.

The Bulls played .594 ball in 32 games without Rose last year (including playoffs). Unless they commit to a full tank session, I don't think we can write them off completely. They're still a very well-coached team.

Agree with most of the updated standings, but i think the bobcats and the Magic should be switched. Certainly they will both go through complete tank sessions this season, but at least Orlando still has decent players like Turkoglu and role players like Redick and Big Baby. The bobcats have essentially no one near quality starting roles/bench roles other than Ben Gordon.

I can see us being in a pretty tight race with the Sixers, Wizards and Bucks for that 8th seed. A lot hinges on whether or not key players for each of these teams can stay healthy, and how quickly new players are able to adapt and integrate themselves into their team's system. I am, of course, slightly biased as Toronto is my team and I'm pretty pumped on how our roster's been shaping up, but I'm confident Toronto can pull through. Between Philly, Milwaukee and Washington, I honestly think they either made the wrong moves this offseason, or didn't make enough of them.

I don't get these lists. It looks like the Bulls are tanking, Orlando is tanking. New York played their best ball when they had a real point guard -- they don't anymore. The Nets added one starter -- they'll improve but playoffs? Hawks will have it tough. I really like the revamp Washington did, and the "new Sixers" ... In no particular order the 10 teams to watch should be:

Heat - Champs
Celtics - Getting older but enough young pieces to keep going
Pacers - This year they can make a big step
76ers - See above
Hawks - It'll be tough but they kept the most consistent pieces of their "core"
Raptors - An improving team traded a draft pick for a new leader, filled all perceived gaps, but will they gel?
Bucks - Weakness? An undersized backcourt
Wizards - Youth mixed with solid vets. Should be worth watching all year
Cavaliers - I like the young pieces they've assembled.
Nets - Like I said, they'll improve the question is how much?

Will this list change? Yes, pre-season trades and personnel moves still have to be made...

But, I know that I won't be watching a team with a patchwork back court with two overpaid stars whose games don't mesh. And I won't watch a team that traded away the best bench in the league while two of their starters won't be available for the start of the season. I don't want to see a team "led" by a man named "Big Baby" or a team owned by Michael Jordan (Until he inevitably gets tired of losing).

Well don't forget that Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace only combined for 21 games last season. I think with those guys playing a full season, and D-Will having a lot of options now as a PG, the Nets are a lock for the playoffs.